Elevated carrier.



W. NUMMEDAHL. ELEVATED CARRIER.

ABPLIOA'IION FILED JULY 30, 1908.

2 SEEET8-SHEET 1.

Patented June 29, 1909.

W. NUMMEDAHL.

ELEVATED CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1908.

926,283 Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATENT @FFTQE.

WILLIAM NUMMEDAHL, OF WEST CONCORD, MINNESOTA.

ELEVATED CARRIER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VJILLIAM NUMMEDAHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at W'est Concord, in the county of Dodge and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Elevated Carrier, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to overhead carriers of that type used for conveying grain, litter, etc., to and from barns, and for similar pur poses.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an overhead track made up of sections, the end sections, which are designed to be located within a barn or other structure, being readily uncoupled from the remaining portions of the track whenever d esircd. This is especially desirable during heavy electrical storms, when there is danger of the overhead track conducting lightning into the barn or other structure, and setting lire thereto.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide simple and efficient means whereby the track sections can be quickly and efficiently coupled together or separated, as desired.

Another object is to provide an overhead track of novel form which can be straight or curved, and which is so constructed as to prevent the carriage of the bucket from becoming derailed at any time.

Another object is to provide a bucket of novel form, having simple and efficient means for looking it normally in a predetermined osition, said means being readily release to cause the bucket to open and discharge the load contained therein.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the detachable sections of the track can be readily drawn taut should they become slack from any cause.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of an elevated carrier, constructed in accordance with the resent invention, a portion of one of the end sections being shown in engagement with the fixed section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a ortion of the track and of the carriage and bucket mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the coupling Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 30,

Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 446,165.

1 member of the movable or end track section. Fig. 1.- 1s a similar view of the corresponding member of the fixed section of the track.

tion of the fixed track. Fig. (5 is an end eleation of one of the buckets and its carriage. Fig. 7 is detailed view of its latch. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a modified form of bucket and carriage. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the latch mechanism thereof.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 11 designate hangers of any de sired form disposed to be supported by any suitable structure and connected at their lower ends to spacing blocks or strips 2. Secured to opposite faces of the spacing blocks and strips are the rails 3 of the overhead track. These rails may, if desired, be in the form of flat metal strips, or, if preferred, can be formed integral with the spacing strips 2. The last mentioned construction is preferable where straight tracks are employed, but at curves the rails are preferably separate from the spacing blocks, as shown especially at 1-, in Fig. 1. The upper edges of the rails I} and 1 are spaced from the corresponding faces of the spacing strips or blocks, so as to permit the flanges of the wheels of the carriages to readily travel therebctween. The ends of the spacing strips and blocks are preferably tapered or pointed, as shown at 5, so as to properly guide the llanges of the carriage wheels into the grooves or channels 6, formed between the rails and the spacing strips or blocks. Obviously the track formed by the rails 3 and 1 can be of any desired proportions and shape. \Vhen this track leads to a barn or other structure, it is designed to p ro vide a detachable rail section at that end of the track adjacent the structure, this detachable portion being located within the structure. here such a structure is utilized a coupling plate 7, is secured between the rails beyond these rails and is recessed in its upper edge, as shown at 8, so as to form an upstanding finger 9. The removable or detachable section of the track consists of parallel rods 10, connected. at one end to cars 11, upstanding from a head 12. A recess 13, is formed in the bottom portion of the head 12, so that said head is enabled to straddle the recessed portion of plate 7. The linger 9 will therefore extend between the rods 10, and the upper portion of the head will rest within recess 8, with the cars 11 registering with the Fig. 5 is a transverse section through a por- 3, at their free ends, and this plate extends Cir iii)

ends of rails 3. A stud 14, may be arranged upon the head 12, and between the cars 11, so as to fill the space between the upper end of finger 9 and the spacing strips 2.

The rods 10 may be ol any desired length and are connected attheir free ends by a cross head or pin 15. This pin is connected to he upper end of a lever 16, iulcrumed upon a bracket 17, which extends from a standard 18. A notched strip, 19, is pivotally connected to the lever 16 and slidably mounted within an opening 20, formed within the standard 18. A cross pin 21 is arranged within the opening, and is designed to be engaged by the strip 19, so as to hold the lever 16 in any position to which it may be adjusted. The rods 10 also extend through openings 22 within the standard 18, and are designed to be shifted longitudinally relative to the standard by means of the lever 16.

It is of course to be understood that under normal conditions the head 12 of the detachable rail section is mounted upon and engages the coupling plate '7 of the fixed rail section. When the parts are thus positioned the rods 10 aline with the rails 3, and it would obviously be possible for the wheels of the carriage to travel readily from the rails 3 and on to the rods 10. Should it be desired to uncouple the removable or detachable track section from the fixed section, as, for example, during a severe electrical storm, it is merely necessary to disengage the strip 19 from pin 21, so as to permit lever 16 to be swung in one direction and relieve the rods 10 of the pull exerted thereon. The head 12 can then be lifted out of engagement with the recessed end of plate 7, and supported in disengaged position in any suitable manner. Obviously the two sections can be coupled together again whenever desired, simply by reversing the foregoing operation. By pulling the lever 1 6 toward the standard 18 it will draw the rods 10 taut and the strip 19 by engaging the pin 21 will lock the rods in the position to which they are adjusted.

Obviously carriages and buckets of dii'len ent forms may be used in connection with the track herein described. The preferred form of carriage however consists of a yoke-like frame 23 having U shaped hangers 24 swiveled thereon and arranged under and extending to opposite sides of the track. The two arms of each hanger are provided at their upper ends and upon their inner or adjoining l'aces with grooved wheels 25, designed to travel upon the rails 3 and the rods 10. The depending end portions of frame 23 are each formed of diverging spring hangers 26. These hangers are secured to the pivotally connected sections 27 of a bucket and close to the hinges 28 thereof. The points of connection between the springs 26 and the bucket sections 27 are so positioned relative to the hinges 28 that the two springs at each end of the bucket will operate to normally hold the bucket sections normally closed togcther.

Ears 29 extend from the upper portions 01'' the springs 26, and pivotally mounted between each pair of ears is a bell-crank lever 30. These levers are arranged to swing in vertical planes and the upper arm of one of the levers is connected to the lower arm of the other lever by means oi a rod 31. A spring 32 is mounted on one end portion 01'' this red and bears at its end against the adjoining springs 26 and also against the collar 33, or other suitable stop device arranged upon the rod 31. This spring therefore operates to hold the bell-cranl normally in pre determined position. The lower end of each bell-crank lever is connected by means of a rod 34 with a locking yoke 36. Each of these yokes is pivotally connected to one of the bucket sections 27, the two yokes being disposed at opposite ends of the bucket, and formed within one of the arms of these yokes is a notch 37 designed to engage a keeper 38 in the form of a strip secured to the end of the bucket section 27 and having a pointed upper or engaging end. Each yoke and its keeper 38 are secured to dill erent bucket sections so that when the yoke and keeper are in engagement said sections will be prevented :2

from opening or swinging apart.

Instead of providing a carriage and bucket such as shown in Fig. 6 a structure such as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 may be utilized. In this form of the device the frame 39 of the carriage is formed with non-elastic or in flexible end arms or hangers 40, provided at their lower ends with openings 41 in which their trunnions or studs 42 extend from the ends of a bucket 43. This bucket differs from that shown in Fig. 6 in that it is not formed of hingedly connected sections. Each trunnion 42 has a notch 44 therein designed to be engaged by a slide 45 mounted within a groove 46 formed within the adjoining arm 40 of the carriage. This slide has a slot 47 for the reception 01" combined guide and retaining pins 48. A. rod 49 connects the slide with the bell-crank lever 50. This lever and the balance of the mechanism corresponds with that shown in Fig. 2. VJ hen the slides 45 are seated within the notches 44 the bucket 43 is, obviously, prevented from rotating relatively to the arms 40. When however the slides are withdrawn fromthese notches 44 the trunnions 42 are free to turn and the bucket will therefore become inverted by gravity and the contents thereof discharged therefrom.

It is to be understood that the contents of either of the carriages herein described can be. dumped at any desired point by providing a suitable projection disposed in the path of the bell-crank lever 30. When the carriage is moving along the track the bell-crank lever 30, or in a construction shown in Fig. 8, the bell-crank lever 50, will strike the projection in the path thereof and the two bell-crank levers on the carriage will be actuated so as to shift the rod 31 against the stress of the spring 32. In the structure shown in Fig. 6 this operation will be sufficient to cause the yoke members of the locks to be lifted out of engagement with the keepers 38. The

springs 26 will therefore promptly operate to swing the two bucket sections 27 apart and the contents of the bucket will therefore promptly fall by gravity downward from between said sections.

IVhat is claimed is 1. A track for overhead carriers comprising a fixed track section, a movable section, separate coupling means upon said sections for holding the sections together, and means for pulling upon the movable section in the direction of its length.

2. A track for overhead carriers comprising a fixed track section, a movable track section, interlocking coupling members upon the respective sections for holding the rails of the two sections in alinement, and means for taking up slack in the movable section.

3. A track for overhead carriers comprising a fixed section, a notched coupling plate extending therebeyond, a movable section, a head carried by said section for engaging the notched coupling plate, and means for binding the head against the plate.

4. A track for overhead carriers comprising a fixed section, a coupling plate extending therebeyond, a movable section, a head included in said section and (llS')OSO(l to straddle and engage the coupling p ate, and means for taking up the slack within the movable section.

5. A track for overhead carriers comprising a fixed section, a coupling plate extending therebeyond and having a notch in its upper edge, a movable section, a head thereon straddling the notched plate and bearing downwardly upon and projecting into the notched plate.

6. In a track for overhead carriers the combination with a fixed section comprising spacing means and rails upon opposite faces of these spacing means; of a relatively movable section comprising parallel track rods, a coupling member connected to one end of said rod, means upon the fixed track section for engaging said coupling means to hold the rods in alinement with the rails of the fixed section.

7. A track for overhead carriers comprising a fixed section, a movable section detachable in connection thereto, the two sections when connected together having their rails in alinement, and manually operated means for taking up slack within the movable section.

S. A track for overhead carriers compris ing a fixed section, a movable section detachably connected to the fixed section, said movable section consisting of spaced track rods, and means for taking up slack within the rods.

9. A track for overhead carriers comprising a fixed section, a movable section detachably connected to the fixed section, said movable section comprising spaced track rods, a take-up device connected to the rods, and means for locking the take-up device against movement.

10. In a track for overhead carriers the combination with a fixed track section; of a movable track section dctachably connected thereto and comprising parallel spaced track rods, a coupling member connecting said rods at one end, a take-up device connected to the rods at the other end, and means for holding the take-up device against movement.

11. A track for overhead carriers comprising a fixed member, a movable member, and coupling means therefor, said means comprising a notched plate extending beyond one of the members and a notched head upon the other member and engaging said plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM NUMh [EDAIIL l/Vitncsses:

Orro it. BoLnN, CnAs. N. IVEBB. 

